nba finals NBA New York Knicks Knicks, Spurs players speak out against ‘unacceptable’ fan violence after NBA Finals Game 3 By Jared Schwartz Published June 9, 2026, 8:31 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on Google Players from the Knicks and Spurs denounced the fights between fans of their teams during Game 3 of the Finals.
“We can’t forget it’s a game,” Victor Wembanyama said Tuesday. “We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion, but to the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”
Multiple videos went viral of fans clashing at a Bryant Park watch party during the Knicks’ 115-111 loss to the Spurs on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
In one video, Knicks fans tore apart a Spurs fan’s Wembanyama jersey.
Another video shows a fan in a Spurs jersey leaving the scene with a bloodied face. Another video showed altercations with police.
More than 20 people were arrested for offenses including assault on a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
Multiple videos went viral of fans clashing at a Bryant Park watch party during the Knicks’ 115-111 loss to the Spurs on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
“The game is built off of respect and passion,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “We want everyone to respect each other. We want everyone to enjoy basketball at its purest state. It’s the NBA Finals. There’s no better place to watch basketball. Leave the physicality to everyone on the court.”
Monday’s planned watch party outside MSG was canceled due to the increased security around the arena with President Trump attending the game.
Watch parties in other locations, including Bryant Park, were organized in its place.
The Bryant Park party turned chaotic, though.
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Even some of the most famous fans were critical of it.
“Being a Knicks fan doesn’t mean being disrespectful to Spurs fans in any way,” Ben Stiller posted on X. “We get caught up during the games but we gotta show respect to our fellow humans.”
